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The English Premier League is the most watched and the most valuable league in the world, grossing more than 5 billion euros a season in revenue. Consequently, it is also the football league, which spends the most on transfers.
Last summer, the EPL clubs spent a staggering 1.5 billion euros on transfer deals to add a flurry of quality players to the league. This year seems to be no different, with the PL teams having spent over 1.3 billion euros before their August 9 deadline.
With teams having spent actively in the transfer market, this season promises to be highly competitive. A majority of the teams, which finished in the top six last season, have had sweeping changes in their squad and so have the teams returning to the top flight such as Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In anticipation of another thrilling campaign, we take a trip down the memory lane to look at the EPL champions, who slumped after winning the league.
#5 Leeds United
In the 1973-74 season, Leeds United won the league title, which was contested by 22 teams back then. Out of the 42 matches played, they won 24, drew 14 and lost on only 4 occasions. They scored a total of 66 goals and conceded 31 goals.
However, the Whites failed to emulate their impressive form the next season as they succumbed to pressure of being the defending champions. In their opening match against Stoke City, Leeds lost 3 goals to nil and they never really got going since that point onwards.
Eventually, they placed ninth on the league table, losing on 13 occasions and winning only 16 of their matches.
#4 Aston Villa
In the 1980-81 season, Aston Villa won the league due to a great run of form that saw them score a total of 72 goals and concede just 40 goals. In the 42 matches they played, there were 26 wins, 8 draws and only 8 losses.
In the following season, the Lions disappointed with their title defense, having failed to meet the high expectations they set in the previous season. Eventually, the English club finished 11th on the league table, winning 15, losing 15 and drawing 12 of their fixtures.
#3 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers won the Premier League in the 1994-95 season, at a time when they had world-class players, who produced world-class performances.
Out of their 42 matches, Blackburn won 27 and lost as less as 6, scoring an astonishing 80 goals and conceding only 39. They eventually won the league with 89 points to their name.
In spite of their achievements the previous term, Blackburn failed to replicate their success in the 1995-96 season. The Riversiders finished seventh on the league table after winning 18 and losing 13 of their 38 matches. Their goal tally also dropped to 61 goals, 19 down from the 80 goals they scored in their league winning campaign. At the end, they finished the league with a mediocre 61 points.
#2 Chelsea
Chelsea won the most prestigious club trophy in England in the 2014-15 season, courtesy of an incisive and effective approach adopted by former Blues Manager Jose Mourinho in his second reign at the Stamford Bridge.
From the very first to the final matchday, Chelsea proved they deserved to win the league that season with a string of perfect footballing displays. During that season, they scored a total of 73 goals and conceded a miserly 32. They won 26 and lost only 3 throughout a stretch of 38 grueling matches. Ultimately, the Blues won the league with 87 points amassed.
In the next season, Chelsea failed to push on from their league victory as Mourinho's infamous third season syndrome struck him once again.
After an uninspired opening day against Manchester United, Chelsea underperformed exponentially in the subsequent weeks. Match after match, they failed to gain momentum until push came to shove and Mourinho was sacked in December 2015.
Under Interim Manager Guus Hiddink, the London side ended their miserable title defense with just 50 points at 10th position.
#1 Leicester City
Leicester City won the 2015-16 league title, out of nowhere, surprising the entire world of football in the process. During a scintillating streak of matches, they overpowered every team they came up against in the league, including the 'Big Six'. The Foxes won 23, drew 12, and lost 3 in 38 matches, eventually winning the league with 81 points in the bag.
Their historic achievement that season was widely praised all over the world and key players like Vardy, Mahrez, and Kante came from the shadows to be regarded as top-notch talent.
However, the Leicester squad couldn't keep up their great run the next season. Their horrible title defense, in 2016-17, was conducive to the sacking of Manager Claudio Ranieri, who had led them to the league title only about a year ago.
Eventually, the Foxes lost more matches (18) than they had won (12) in that season. Under new manager Craig Shakespeare, they finished at 12th on the league table with only 44 points, a serious downgrade from their title-winning season.
